The Rookies: Series Directory/Guide

The Rookies is a novella(?) written by Bojikstan for the NS Sports subforum, following the lives of a group of young footballers who are rich for the first time after making it big. It also covers some of the country's social topics, and shows flashbacks to previous events such as the Bojikstani Civil War. The story takes place across a number of arcs, listed below.

Arc 1: Beginning

We meet the players as Bojikstan competes in the Independents Cup, their first ever competition as a national team. The writing in this arc is simpler, and much of the focus is on personal drama.

Chapter One: A short intro. Mara Mandaric writes about the experience on her blog

Chapter Two: Artem talks to Mara about a flashback

Chapter Three: Niko and Mara fight, Ricardo and Rain go out

Chapter Four: Rain's past resurfaces, Artem meets Livia

Chapter Five: The team reaches the quarterfinals, Mara opens up

Chapter Six: The team wins, but Mara is injured

Chapter Seven: Relationship drama all around

Chapter Eight: Bojikstan loses the third place match, Mara vows to figure out Rain

Arc 2: Blackmont

The group travels to Blackmont, where their personal dramas will intersect. This arc has inconsistently better writing, and takes place between tournaments. You could say that the series starts for real here.

Chapter Nine: Niko and Artem talk before the gang heads to Blackmont

Chapter Ten: Lady Baines gives advice to Rain, who freaks out on Crown Day

Chapter Eleven: Ships happen

Arc 2.5: Crazy Youth

A family drama that was written during the Di Bradini Cup. Not about the main Rookies cast, but it follows outsiders Livia Andrade and Will Sorokin before they join the main group on the senior national team.

Part One: It started over a boy

Part Two: The team wins, but Liv doesn't fit in

Part Three: Nadine gets an offer after a heartbreaking loss

Part Four: Nadine starts breaking down

Part Five: Liv comes to an understanding

Part Six: Liv sees a therapist, but reignites a feud

Part Seven: Dimitar makes a deal, Will has a scare

Part Eight: Liv earns her place

Epilogue: The sisters make amends.

Arc 3: Rebirth

The group gets back together before the World Cup and takes a second trip to Blackmont. The writing improves a lot compared to the first arc, and we see themes of mystery and intrigue here. We also get flashbacks to the war.

Chapter Twelve: Ricky drags Rain back to the others, breaking her isolation

Chapter Thirteen: The group is reunited once again

Chapter Fourteen: Rain discovers that she has a stalker

Chapter Fifteen: Artem realizes something is up

Chapter Sixteen: The team goes out, and Mara explains her background

Chapter Seventeen: Mara comes out, flustering Rain

Chapter Eighteen: A flashback to Rain's return home for the closing stages of the war

Chapter Nineteen: Rain remembers her Ghost

Chapter Twenty: Rain's flashback to the Siege of Odena

Arc 4: Leaders

A changing of the guard begins as the Rookies make it through a chaotic World Cup qualifying campaign.

Chapter Twenty One: Niko and Liv go out

Chapter Twenty Two: Artem discovers Rain's stalker problem